Faith in America is hope of the world, says Cardinal Cipriani

Lima, Peru, Mar 30, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- In his Easter greetings to the faithful, the Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne said the Catholic identity of Latin America is the hope of the world.
The cardinal noted that during the Easter Triduum, “We have seen how people have filled the streets and churches; how many people have sought out a priest for confession or have spent hours at shrines in prayer to the Lord. This has been a plebiscite of the Catholic faith of our people which only inspires thankfulness to God in us pastors.”

“It is this silent majority that sustains our faith,” the Cardinal said, adding that they should be distinguished from the image portrayed in the media of people who are only concerned about power and challenge and abandon their faith.

This silent majority “is found in Latin America, making it the continent of hope, since deep in her soul is a great love of God, of His Church, of priests, of confession, of the Blessed Mother,” the cardinal stated.

He also criticized “the powerful in Europe, who have renounced their Christian identity,” referring to the decision to exclude a reference to Christianity in the European Constitution.

“Not everything is perfect on our continent, but there are many good people who pray, hope in God and try to do good,” he added.

The cardinal also decried the efforts by the media to silence Catholics and pressure them to relegate their faith exclusively to their private life rather than allowing it to shape their political and economic beliefs and actions.